Sanitary container



A BEAUCHEMIN 2,533,757

SANITARY com'umsa 2 sheets-Shae; 1

. Inventor v Attorneys- Dec. 12, 1950 v Flled May 18 1946 Dec. 12, 1950A. BEAUCHEMIN 2,533,757

SANITARY CONTAINER Filed May 18, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Li. \Wlv 30 Ilnven scr fliveizefieaaakm At torn eys Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containersfor the hygienic, overnight preservation of artificial dentures.

In general, dentures are removed from the mouth at night and placed inany available container, usually a drinking glass or cup which is filledwith water or an antiseptic solution. Such containers are oftenundistinguishable from similar household articles and may beinadvertently used for other purposes without proper sanitaryprecautions being taken, a practice which obviously can lead to thespreading of disease, germs, or at least unhygienic living conditions.In addition, the liquid in the container is usually colorless and it hasoccurred that the foul liquid has been consumed or utilized in some way,such as for brushing the teeth through inadvertence or mistake. Further,this unsanitary practice may have harmful results to the user of thedentures as they are left for relatively long periods with the liquidexposed to dust and other air-borne foreign matter which may contaminatethe liquid thus the dentures therein.

In brief the present invention contemplates a distinctive containerhaving a peripheral lip which is unsuitable for pouring liquids ordrinking therefrom and which is provided with a seating for properdisposition of the dentures therein, and additionally provided with aprotective cover.

In accordance with the invention, one object is to provide a containerwhich even under casual observation will be seen to be provided for adistinct purpose unrelated to normal household usage. Another object isto provide a container which renders difficult and discourages the actof drinking therefrom particularly by small children who fail toperceive the unsanitary condition of the container. Still other objectsthereof are provision for the proper disposition of the dentures orpartial dental restorations in the container to the end that they arenot subjected to stresses of any kind which may distort or fracture thedenture, and to facilitate the insertion or removal of the denturestherefrom.

In considering the invention in greater detail, reference will be madeto the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a similar view thereof in which the cover has been removed.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view, with the cover removed, of still another formof the invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view along the line 9-9 of Figure 8,and through the attached cover.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts, throughout the several viewsit will be seen that the invention, as disclosed in Figures 1 to 5,consists of a cruciform. The cover has a marginal rib I2, to effect arelatively dust-proof seal between the container and the;-

container I5, provided with a cover II.

container is below the level of the bottom of the remaining arm I4, andis provided with a raised, arcuate portion I5, in the center thereof.The upper denture is disposed in the arm I3, with the rib of the saiddenture partially supported on the raised portion I5, and the lowerdenture is disposed in the arm I4, at right angles to, and bridging theupper denture as shown most clearly in Figure 4. By arranging thedentures as indicated a minimum strain is imposed upon each denture andthey are nested in a compact manner commensurate with the shape of thecontainer.

The peripheral lip of the container is fluted or notched I5, and thisirregular edge coupled with the fact that any portion of the edge ismuch more narrow than the mouth of a child, renders the act of drinkingfrom the container exceedingly difficult, and discourages such attempts.

The container is filled with water or preferably an antiseptic solutionwhich is displaced when the dentures are deposited therein. To avoidwastage of the antiseptic and the inconvenience an excessive amount ofthe liquid would cause through overflowing when the dentures are placedin the container, an indicating means I'l, such as shown in Figures 1and 2, is provided in which the numerals l and 2 indicate the liquidlevels for one or two dentures respectfully and 3 the letters A and Bindicate the amount of concentrated antiseptic required for the totalliquid levels I and 2 respectively.

In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, the container 20, has acruciform inner configuration and a distinctive outer appearance whichincludes opposed curvilinear enlargements 2|, to discourage drinking andpouring from the container and fanciful legs 22, to indicate thespecific use thereof. 7 V

The container 2 3, is adapted for a single denture which is disposed inone arm 23. The lower center portion 24, of the said arm is restrictedto maintain the denture in an upright position. The remaining arm 25, isrelatively shallow and curves downward and inward to the arm 23:, to theend that the thumb and finger are directed toward the denture andfacilitates the insertion and removal of the said denture therefrom.

It is obvious that a cover, liquid indicating means and a crenated. orfluted peripherymaybe employed in combination with the containerdescribed and. illustrated in Figures 6 and '7.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures- 8 9, the container isparticularly adaptable to partial dental restorations although it shouldbe understood that a complete denture may be disposed therein, in asubstantially horizontal position. Exterio'rly the container 30, has ashallow, circi-rl'ar appearance with a crenated peripheral flange =3l,for the purpose hereinb'efore described. The top surface of the flangeis additionally provided with an annular recess 32 which coacts with theannular rib 33, of the cover M, to elfect an eflicient seal for properhygienic conditions.

Intericny the container '35,. forms an arcua-t'e basin 1'35, risingconcentrically to form a module: 36, which is still further elevated atits rear edge to provide a fulcrum 31-, for the lever '38. To

the rear of the fulcrum a depression 3'9, permits the short arm 48,. ofthe lever to be depressed and thus raise the three arms which follow thecontour of the nodule, 36, and the bottom of the ar-cnate basin '35. Itis obvious that the denture supported on the arms of the lever and israised from. the basin 'by' depressing the short :arm flyall for thepurpose of facilitating the removal of the denture ironr the container.

In general the salient features of my invention are carried into effectin all embodiments thereof and each container may be formed fromplastic, glass or ceramic material which may be transparent ortranslucent.

What I claim isi 1. A partitionless leakproof container to support apair of dentures in nested vertical position in an antiseptic solution,having an interior cruciform configuration, walls of a heightsuffici'ent to extend above the top portion of said dentures when invertical position, in which one arm is less shallow than the remainingarm, a raised arcuate portion formed at the center of the bottom of saidfirst arm to support a denture in vertical position, a crenatedperipheral lip and. a cover for the container.

2. A partitionless leakproof container to support a pair of dentures innested vertical position in an antiseptic solution, having an exteriorirregular substantially cruciform configuration, an interior cruciformconfiguration, walls of a height suilicien't to extend above the topporticn of said dentures when in vertical position, in which one arm-isless shallow than the remaining arm, a raised arcuate portion formed atthe center ofthe bottom of said first arm to support a denture invertical position, a crenated peripheral lip and a cover for thecontainer.

ARSENE BEAUCHEMIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 101,290 Schneider Sept. 22,1936' 908,723 Anderson Jan. 5, 19 09- l,49'7,'?'55 Huntley June 1'7,1924 1,912,62? Dyer June 6, 1933 2,218,388 Twombly Oct. 15, 1940-23155645 Gordon May 8, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 311,127Italy Sept. 21, 1933

